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Louis Shockley transcript, 2022-05-07

 Item
Identifier: dcpl_dcohc041_04_tra.pdf

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

D.C. Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) is a citywide initiative to train community members in oral history skills, fund new and ongoing oral history projects, connect volunteers with oral history projects, and publicize existing oral history collections. DCOHC is a project of DC Public Library, HumanitiesDC, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and indexes produced by DCOHC grantees.

Dates

  • Creation: 2022-05-07

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Rev. Dr. Louis Shockley served 45 years in ministry, including as senior pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church from 2004 to 2013. Raised in Dover, Delaware, by his grandparents, he was involved in desegregation efforts there and became a leader of the Junior NAACP after attending the March on Washington. He also worked in the civil rights movement, including preparing some East Coast cities for visits by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. A student of graphic design, he wanted to pursue a career in art but felt called into the ministry and served Ohio ministries and churches before moving to the Washington, D.C. area, and serving as a pastor and district superintendent. Beyond local congregational leadership, he was a communications leader for the Baltimore-Washington Conference and active supporter of voter registration in Prince George’s County.

Extent

From the Collection: 1.13 Terabytes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Rev. Dr. Louis Shockley describes being raised in Dover, Delaware, by his parents, and being involved in desegregation efforts there before attending the March on Washington and subsequently being a leader in Junior NAACP before graduating from high school. He describes his work with civil movement leaders, helping pave the way for Martin Luther King Jr. to visit some East Coast cities. He moved from a promising art career to answering a call to the ministry and serving ministries first in Ohio and later in the Washington, D.C. area. Over the years he confronted racism within the church from unaccepting white members and outside from the burning of a cross on church property. After arriving at Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, he oversaw ministries that fed the hungry and he advocated for LGBTQ rights, hosting a concert prior to D.C.’s passage of marriage equality legislation. He describes how, since fully retiring in 2021, he has been developing sauces influenced by long-ago cooking lessons from his grandmother.

Repository Details

Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository

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